FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 19, 2003

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Genene Morris (973)504-6327

NEWARK - An Essex County Superior Court judge has issued an order against Dorothy Neddermeyer, permanently restraining the revoked social worker from practicing social work in New Jersey without a license, Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and Consumer Affairs Director Reni Erdos have announced today.

During a hearing before Essex County Superior Court Judge Kenneth J. Levy, Neddermeyer admitted she engaged in the unlicensed practice of social work and consented to paying a $24,000 penalty. She will also change her Web site and send letters to clients making it clear that she is not licensed or certified to engage in social work, counseling and/or therapy and will also pay restitution to all clients to whom she provided social work, counseling and/or therapy services after April 1, 2002.

In addition to permanently restraining Neddermeyer from practicing social work or providing counseling and/or therapy services, Judge Levy also ordered an inspection, removal and impoundment of her client records. Additionally, Neddermeyer has been ordered to appear in court once again on September 3 before Judge Levy to answer contempt-of-court allegations by the State asserting that she continued to practice social work even after Judge Levy entered an order temporarily restraining Neddermeyer in May.

The permanent restraints come after the State accused Neddermeyer of continuing to engage in the practice of social work although she entered into an agreement a year ago voluntarily surrendering her license and agreeing to pay civil monetary penalty of $3,000 and costs in the amount of $2,132. Under the terms of the March 2002 agreement with the State Board of Social Work Examiners, the surrender was deemed to be and carried the same weight as a license revocation. However, during an investigation by Consumer Affairs' Enforcement Bureau, undercover investigators met with and paid Neddermeyer a total of $200 for two sessions with the revoked social worker.

The State alleged that Neddermeyer continued to offer her services on her Web site and counseled a woman during two therapy sessions in January and February. The woman claimed to be suffering from low self-esteem as a result of years of verbal and mental abuse by her husband. She was accompanied by another woman who claimed to be her sister. In fact, the two women were Enforcement Bureau investigators.

Neddermeyer represented to the investigators that she specialized in anxiety; depression; panic attacks; sexual and physical abuse recovery, co-dependency, self-esteem issues and eating disorders. She also gave the investigators a business card that listed her credentials as Ph.D., MSW, CSW, CCH, CRT, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist. During the therapy sessions, Neddermeyer questioned the investigator about her current relationship with her husband and suggested to the investigator that they meet weekly for therapy sessions.

"We take a dim view of individuals who enter into agreements with us and flout them without any regard for State laws and the general public," Attorney General Harvey said. "That is why we pursued this action against Ms. Neddermeyer."

"The unlicensed practice of social work is unlawful in the State of New Jersey," Director Erdos said. "We cannot and will not stand by and watch individuals ignore our State's laws and the agreements they enter into. When individuals enter into agreements with us, we expect compliance."

Neddermeyer was a licensed clinical social worker until March 18, 2002, when she entered into the order of voluntary surrender. The surrender came after the board found she crossed professional boundaries between therapist and client when she became personally involved one of her clients. Specifically, the Board found that Neddermeyer engaged in inappropriate displays of affection with the client, invited the client to socialize with her and her family and exchanged gifts and cards of endearment with the client. The Board also found that Neddermeyer engaged in professional misconduct when she diagnosed and treated the client for multiple personality disorder ("MPD") although her training in MPD was limited to some workshops at a three-day conference and doing independent reading on the subject. Neddermeyer maintained a practice at 311 Lenox Avenue, South Orange.

Anyone who has been provided counseling services by Ms. Neddermeyer since May 9, 2003, is encouraged to contact the Board of Social Work Examiners at 973-504-6495. Ask to speak with Cathalina Cruz.

Deputy Attorney General Susan C. Berger of the Division of Law handled this matter for the State.